Day 28–Sunday–We finished our section today!! Hiked about 9 miles into Harper’s Ferry. The trail was pretty level most of the way but littered with rocks of all sizes and shapes. Have I said how much I dislike hiking over rocks? It made for slow going because you have to pick your way through–very mentally and emotionally exhausting. I just wanted to get the mileage done but Randy was a bit sad that our hike was ending. About a mile, mile and a half out from HF the trail started to steeply descend and it seemed like we hiked forever down, down, down to the Shenandoah River and crossed it in a hikers lane on the bridge in the hot sun and 90 degree heat. Then we climbed again and it seemed like we walked forever to the blue blazed trail to the ATC center. Seeing the center and the sign was very emotional for me. I even got teary eyed and almost cried. Just knowing it was Father’s Day and my dad had been there almost exactly 28 years earlier was very moving. I’m thankful he is still alive and knows that I made it to Harper’s Ferry. After getting our picture taken and signing the book, we decided to hike the extra mile to the Maryland border. So we hiked around the town on a rocky, steep, winding trail and through the old town and tons of tourists and crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. Then we hiked back over the foot bridge and caught the shuttle bus to where our car was parked. It was a fabulous day. We have completed 1025 miles of the AT!!!! Thoughts from the trail…never has it seemed so hard and long to enter a trail town. The anticipation of getting there wore me down. Oh, did I mention I don’t like rocks?Fitbit says: 32317 “climb it”

Day 27–Saturday–Harper’s Ferry tomorrow!! Really looking forward to it. My feet are so sore. Bears Den last night was great. We each got a bunk, a whole pizza, a cold drink, and a pint of ice cream. We were stuffed! Then we got pancakes and coffee for breakfast. I miss my cold brew coffee😩. That’s the first thing I’ll have when I get home. Finished the roller coaster today and entered West Virginia. It seem the trail all of a sudden evened out and became lass rocky. We had a few miles pretty level through beautiful forest with ferns everywhere. The rocks were few and far between. We did 12 miles and are camped at David Lesser Memorial Shelter surrounded by Boy Scouts! Thoughts from the trail…there are ups and downs just like in life. You never know what you’ll get or what’s around the bend or over the hill. You just gotta keep going as best you can.Fitbit says: 36320

Day 26–Friday–At Bears Den Hostel–6.7 miles and an afternoon to rest a bit. Big stone building, very nice. Climbed and descended 4 or 5 humps of the roller coaster. Only 3 more miles of it and maybe the terrain will even out a bit. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks!! The roller coaster is one of the hardest sections we have done so far. Climbing over rocks, climbing down rocks, climbing around rocks. VA is not easy and it is not giving itself up easily. We crossed 1000 miles today and will enter West Virginia tomorrow. Thoughts from the trail…if there was a rock hopping event in the senior olympics I think I could enter and place in the top five!!Fitbit says: 23234

Day 24–Wednesday–4 days to Harpers Ferry! Got an early start this morning but by 8:30 there was a waterfall flowing down my face and it was that was for a long time. We climbed most of the morning and did start to get a breeze from time to time. It seemed liked it cooled as the day went on but the humidity seemed to get worse. Saw a big black snake just starting out of the bushes on the side of the trail. We stopped and let it cross. Had lunch at Mannassas Creek Shelter with Mowgli, Dante, and Frozen. Frozen had just resupplied and he had little peppers and squash which he used with spices, oil and spam and cooked up spam tacos!! Boy did they smell good! I could sure use some tacos right now!! Hiked to the next shelter where we planned to stay for the night and were surprised to find a new one built just up the hill! It is so nice and since it might rain tonight we set up in the shelter. We are being as quiet as little mice hoping no one notices the new shelter!! Shhhhhhh!! Did 10 miles today. 228 miles and now I get a blister!? 😩🤔Because of the heat and humidity we’ve backed off our mileage a bit. Thoughts from the trail…I found out where gnats go at night–they don’t go anywhere–they are waiting for you when you open the tent flap in the morning! What is the lifespan of a gnat anyway?Fitbit says: 31840

Day 25–Thursday–3 days to Harper’s Ferry–11.7 miles today. Stayed in the shelter with about 6 others last night. Snoring from all sides! Others were tented or hammocking nearby. The rain didn’t come but it felt so good to lay flat and not slide down to the end of the tent!! Entered the rollercoaster this afternoon and did two humps. I’m ready to exit! Camped at Morgan Mill Stream, mm about 997. Tomorrow we cross 1000 miles. We plan to stay at Bears Den Hostel Friday night after about 7 more miles of the rollercoaster. Then it’s dancing and leaping and praising God all the way into HF!!!!  
Fitbit says: 37326

Day 23–Tuesday–Countdown to the end–5 more days on trail! Got a late start today after a home cooked breakfast and great conversation with Tom & Sharon Johnson. What an interesting couple! Followed Sharon to Harper’s Ferry, parked the car and she drove us back to the trail. Didn’t start hiking til 11:30 and it was hot! Pretty easy trail today and except for the heat the climbs would not have been bad. We only did a bit less than 8 miles but it was enough. Camped at Jim & Molly Denton Shelter–front porch, chairs, solar shower, horseshoe pit–luxury!!Thoughts from the trail…why are there so many gnats and where do they go at night? How far will they follow a hiker? Randy says I have a cloud of them following me sometimes. Fitbit says: 22256

Forgot a most important thing about today!! We watch an AT movie called The Long Start to the Journey done by Chris Galloway and in it is an interview with an AT historian. Well when we got to our shuttle driver’s house her husband came around the corner and he’s the historian!! We told him “we know you!” He is finishing editing his book on the builders of the Appalachian Trail. Had a good conversation with him about places on the trail he has included in his book. We are looking forward to getting it when it comes out. 

Day 22–Monday–11.4 miles today. We were woken at 2am by screams from the ladies in the tent next to us. A bear was sniffing at their tent and brushed up against it! Glad it was their tent and not ours!! Trail was pretty smooth and level today. Had a few climbs and some areas with lots of rocks. Came out in the open once and were awed by the view. One hiker said that in the ’30’s you could see over 100 miles away. Now you’re lucky if you can see 50 because of smog from the D.C. area. SNP is in the books! Exited the park this afternoon. Met another brother and sister hiking together with a friend. Brother is from Atlanta and sister had done mission trips with Samaritans Purse. Hope we see them again tomorrow. We are staying at our shuttle drivers house tonight. They have a hiker loft over their garage with shower and laundry. And she is going to cook breakfast in the morning!! Then we’ll take the car up to Harper’s Ferry for the last leg of our journey. We’ll have a short day tomorrow–only about 7 miles or so. Thoughts from the trail…my body is saying quit already I’ve had enough! Can’t believe we are almost to Harper’s Ferry! Gonna get our picture took for the section hiker book! Fitbit says: 34307

Day 21–Sunday–14.3 miles! We are tearing up some trail! Tomorrow we will exit SNP and get to Front Royal if my feet hold up. Two back to back 14 milers is hard on the feet! Even though it was hot and buggy today we had a great day hiking. In the afternoon I had to get out the bug headnet and wear it to keep the gnats out of my eyes and mouth. Swallowed one this morning😏😳The trail was much less rocky and climbs more gradual. Yesterday we met a brother and sister out hiking for 4 days. Today we ate lunch with them at Elkwallow Wayside. They were really interested in our hiking experiences and the trail itself. Hamburger and fries for Randy, grilled chicken and fries for me! I saw no bears but Randy saw one in the bushes. Tomorrow we start our fourth week. Can’t believe how far we’ve come!! 200 miles as of today!! My accountant will figure our average daily miles and let you all know😀!! We are camped at Gravel Springs Hut for the night. There has been a lot of bear activity around here–sure hope I don’t have to go to the bathroom in the night! 😳There is a former police officer from Cobb County here!! She now serves in Colorado but remembers Marietta well. Had some good talks about the city. Thoughts from the trail…keep your mouth closed or at least don’t breathe in deep when there are so many gnats.🤔 Too bad you can’t keep your eyes closed too! They love to fly in there. Fitbit says: 44728

Day–20–Started the day 2 snickers bars down! Something climbed the bear pole, we think it was a raccoon, in the night and got into our food bag!! And of course it ate the snickers….Today was a day walking along rock ledges on very rocky trail. Stopped at Skyland for a cold drink and snacks then headed back to the trail. Surprised a bird who nested in a rock–she flew out of the nest right in front of my face! Headed back to Luray Days Inn for the night and did laundry. Back on trail in the morning. Today 14.1 miles, no bears, no snakes. Thoughts from the trail…heat and me don’t work well together. Tomorrow will be a scorcher. My feet hurt from pounding on the rocks and twisting and turning every which a-way!!

Fitbit says: 43554